Air Fryer Taquitos: Can You Cook Them?

Taquitos are a delicious snack, but frying them can be a hassle. Fortunately, air fryers provide a simple solution to this problem. Air-fried taquitos are a healthier alternative to deep-fried ones, and they're also easier to make. You can use corn or flour tortillas, and fill them with beef, chicken, or cheese. The best part? You can have crispy, golden taquitos ready in less than 15 minutes!

How to make taquitos in an air fryer from scratch

Taquitos are a delicious snack, appetizer, or main course. They can be made with a variety of fillings, including chicken, beef, or vegetables, and can be fried, baked, or air-fried. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make taquitos in an air fryer from scratch:

Ingredients:

• Meat of your choice (chicken, beef, or pork)
• Salsa
• Seasonings (such as seasoned salt, lemon pepper, garlic salt, chili powder, paprika, oregano)
• Corn tortillas
• Oil for frying (canola, corn, or vegetable oil)
• Toothpicks
• Optional fillings: cheese, sour cream, guacamole, lettuce, tomato, olives

Instructions:

• Cook the meat in a slow cooker with salsa and seasonings until it is tender and can be easily shredded. For chicken, this will take about 3 hours on high or 4-5 hours on low. For beef or pork, cook on low for 8-9 hours or on high for 6-7 hours.
• Shred the meat using two forks or a stand mixer.
• Warm the tortillas in a kitchen towel or a slightly damp paper towel in the microwave for about 1-2 minutes, until they are soft and pliable. Keep them warm as you work.
• Place about 1-2 tablespoons of the meat mixture on one side of a tortilla and roll it tightly. Secure it with a toothpick.
• Continue filling and rolling the tortillas until you have the desired number of taquitos.
• Preheat your air fryer to 350-400°F.
• Place the taquitos in the air fryer basket, seam-side down, in a single layer, making sure they are not touching. You may need to cook them in batches depending on the size of your air fryer.
• Lightly spray the taquitos with cooking spray or avocado oil.
• Air fry the taquitos for 4-5 minutes, then flip them over and cook for an additional 4-5 minutes, or until they are golden brown and crispy.
• Serve the taquitos with your choice of toppings or dips, such as sour cream, guacamole, salsa, cheese, or lettuce.

Tips:

• If your tortillas are cracking, try warming them up again or use less filling.
• You can also bake or fry the taquitos if you don't have an air fryer.
• Taquitos can be made in advance and frozen for up to 3 months. Reheat them in the air fryer, oven, or microwave until crispy and warmed through.

How to make frozen taquitos in an air fryer

Ingredients:

• Frozen Taquitos (e.g. José Olé brand)
• Optional toppings: shredded lettuce, sour cream, salsa, shredded cheese, guacamole, etc.

Method:

• Preheat your air fryer to 375°F–400°F. You can skip this step if your air fryer does not require preheating.
• Place the frozen taquitos in a single layer at the bottom of the air fryer basket. Spray them generously with oil.
• Air fry for 7–11 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
• Flip the taquitos halfway through cooking and respray with oil for extra golden, crispy taquitos.
• Remove the taquitos from the air fryer using tongs and serve with your desired toppings.

Tips:

• You can serve taquitos as a main dish with Spanish rice and seasoned black beans, or as an appetizer with sides like refried beans.
• You can also make your own homemade taquitos by filling and rolling them yourself.
• For extra crispy taquitos, spray them with cooking oil before and during cooking.

How to make beef taquitos in an air fryer

Yes, you can put taquitos in the air fryer! Here is a recipe for how to make beef taquitos in an air fryer:

Ingredients:

• Ground beef
• Taco seasoning
• Green chillies
• Shredded pepper jack cheese
• Corn tortillas
• Cooking spray
• Salt
• Toppings of your choice (optional)

Method:

• Brown the beef in a large skillet over medium heat. Drain the fat.
• Add the taco seasoning, green chillies, and water to the beef and simmer for 5 minutes.
• Heat the corn tortillas in the microwave with a damp paper towel to keep them moist.
• Fill each tortilla with a couple of tablespoons of beef and roll tightly.
• Place the taquitos seam-side down in the air fryer basket and spray with cooking spray.
• Cook at 400°F for 6-7 minutes, or until the taquitos are as crispy as you'd like.
• Serve with your choice of toppings or dipping sauces, such as salsa, sour cream, or guacamole.

How to make chicken taquitos in an air fryer

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ½ cup yellow onion, minced
• 2 cups cooked, shredded chicken (co: 0,2,3,5>rotisserie chicken works well)
• 4 oz can diced green chilies
• 1 tablespoon fresh chopped cilantro
• 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
• 2 cups pepper jack cheese, shredded
• 12 six-inch flour tortillas ("fajita size")

Optional Toppings:

• Sour cream
• Salsa
• Guacamole
• Chipotle sauce
• Shredded cheese
• Crumbled cotija cheese or queso fresco

Method:

• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet on the stove over medium-high heat.
• Add the minced onion and cook for 4 minutes.
• Add the cooked, shredded chicken, diced green chilies, cilantro, and taco seasoning to the skillet. Stir everything together and cook for 2-3 minutes.
• Remove from the heat and stir in the pepper jack cheese.
• Stack the tortillas and wrap them in damp paper towels. Microwave for 60 seconds.
• Place 3-4 tablespoons of the mixture in the middle of a tortilla and roll it up tightly. Repeat until all the taquitos are filled and rolled.
• Preheat your air fryer to 400°F.
• Place the taquitos in the air fryer basket, seam-side down, leaving space around each taquito for air to circulate. Spray with cooking spray.
• Air fry at 400°F for 4-5 minutes.
• Use tongs to flip the taquitos, spray with cooking spray again, and cook for an additional 4-5 minutes.

Tips:

• You will likely need to cook the taquitos in batches unless you have a very large air fryer.
• Make sure the taquitos are wrapped tightly before cooking, otherwise, they may come open in the air fryer.
• For gluten-free chicken taquitos, use corn tortillas or gluten-free tortillas.
• For spicy chicken taquitos, use hot green chilies and add 2-3 teaspoons of hot sauce to the filling.

What to serve with air-fried taquitos

Air-fried taquitos are a delicious, quick, and easy meal to make. They are perfect for a Mexican-themed night, game night, or any day of the week. Here are some ideas on what to serve with them:

Dips and Sauces

You can serve your air-fried taquitos with a variety of dips and sauces. Guacamole, salsa, sour cream, and chipotle sauce are all excellent choices. You can also serve them with Mexican tomato sauce or a spicy red salsa on the side. If you want to spice things up, add some hot sauce to your dip or salsa.

Sides

If you're looking for some side dishes to accompany your taquitos, consider refried beans, black beans, and Spanish rice. Mexican rice is also a great option to round out your meal.

Toppings

Taquitos are typically served with various toppings. You can add shredded lettuce, green chilies, sliced jalapenos, or crumbled cotija cheese or queso fresco. You can also get creative and add other toppings like pico de gallo, cilantro, onion, or Mexican crema.

Other Dishes

If you want to make it a feast, you can serve your air-fried taquitos with air fryer flautas or other types of taquitos, such as chicken or steak taquitos. You can also offer a variety of frozen appetizers, such as mini tacos, tater tots, or egg rolls, which can be easily prepared in the air fryer.

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